Dissolving and dispensing apparatus

Abstract

A funnel shaped conveyor receives containers of powdered materials and is coupled to the containers. A screen support member within the funnel receives granules from the container and supports the same above a spray nozzle. The nozzle directs a spray of liquid, such as water, against the underside of the support screen and wets the granules resting thereon, dissolving the same and causing the solution to pass through the screen. The nozzle further sprays the sides of the funnel in order to remove any caking material and reduce clogging. A discharge port provides the resulting solution to a receptacle, such as a washing machine. The apparatus includes a dual safety feature, which assures that an operator will not be exposed to any caustic solutions during a change of containers. Rotatable mounting brackets permit gravity fed operation in a first position, and permit container replacement in a second position in which a sensing switch disables the nozzle. Further, the nozzle remains pointed upward even in the second position, assuring that any accidental discharge is directed at the discharge port and not at the operator.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Material dispensing apparatus for dispensing a solution of said material comprising: (a) a container of said material formed of a component which enables external observation of a level of said material within said container;   (b) said container having an opening;   (c) conveying means having coupling means for coupling a first opening to said conveying means to said opening of said container;   (d) receiving means attached to said conveying means for receiving granules of said materials fed from said container;   (e) dissolving means comprising a nozzle for directing a liquid at said receiving means to form a solution;   (f) said conveying means having a second opening therein for dispensing said solution; and   (g) rotating means for rotating said container and said conveying means from a first position wherein granules of said material may be fed from said container to said receiving means, to a second position wherein granules of said material may not be fed from said container to said receiving means.   
     
     
       2. The dispensing apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said conveying means includes a segment comprising a frustum of a cone, with its larger opening receiving said material from said opening of said container and its smaller opening directing said solution to said second opening of said conveying means. 
     
     
       3. The dispensing apparatus recited in claim 2 wherein said material is gravity fed from said container to said receiving means, and said solution is gravity fed from said receiving means to said second opening, said container being operatively disposed in an inverted position above said first opening in said first position of said coupled container and conveying means, and inoperatively disposed below said first opening in said second position of said coupled container and conveying means.   
     
     
       4. The dispensing apparatus recited in claim 3 further comprising discharge means connected to said second opening of said conveying means for discharging said solution in said first position. 
     
     
       5. The dispensing apparatus recited in claim 4 further comprising means for orienting said nozzle substantially upwardly toward said first opening when said coupled container and conveying means are in said first position and toward said second opening when said coupled container and conveying means are in said second position, thereby assuring that any discharge of said nozzle during replacement of said container in said second position is directed away from said first opening. 
     
     
       6. The dispensing apparatus recited in claim 5 wherein said conveying means includes a substantially cylindrical portion between said larger opening of said frustum of a cone and said first opening, said coupling means comprising an internally threaded portion associated with said cylindrical portion for coupling with an externally threaded portion associated with said container opening.   
     
     
       7. The dispensing apparatus recited in claim 6 wherein said receiving means comprises a perforated material disposed above said nozzle in said first position and clamped between a flange formed in said coupling means and said cylindrical portion.   
     
     
       8. The dispensing apparatus recited in claim 7 wherein said nozzle comprises means for directing a spray of fluid against said cylindrical portion as well as against said receiving means whereby more complete dissolving of said material is assured and whereby clogging is reduced. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus for dissolving and dispensing powdered materials from a container comprising: (a) conveying means for said materials having coupling means at one end thereof for coupling to said container;   (b) said conveying means having a first opening at said one end for receiving said powdered materials from an opening in said container, and a second opening at a second end thereof for dispensing said powdered materials in a dissolved state;   (c) a porous support member within said conveying means for supporting said powdered materials in an undissolved state on one surface thereof;   (d) nozzle means disposed within said conveying means for directing a liquid under pressure at another surface of said support member and for wetting powdered material granules supported on one end surface of said support member;   (e) mounting means for rotatably mounting said conveying means to a fixed structure comprising: (i) first mounting bracket for attachment to said fixed structure;   (ii) second mounting bracket for attachment to said conveying means and for rotatably engaging said first mounting bracket;     (f) said conveying means being rotatable between a first, operative position wherein said powdered materials pass from said container to said conveying means for dissolution and dispensing, and a second inoperative position wherein said powdered materials do not pass from said container to said conveying means.   
     
     
       10. The apparatus recited in claim 9 further comprising control means for enabling and disabling flow of said liquid to said nozzle means. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus recited in claim 10 wherein said support member comprises screen means having apertures sized for preventing granules of said powdered materials from passing therethrough and for permitting passage of said powdered materials in a dissolved state, and wherein said nozzle means comprises directional means for directing a spray emanating therefrom against said another surface of said screen means and against a portion of said conveying means.   
     
     
       12. The apparatus recited in claim 11 wherein said control means comprises means responsive to rotation of said conveying means from said first position, for disabling flow to said nozzle means, whereby an emptied container of said caustic materials may be uncoupled from said conveying means and a filled container coupled thereto, without the possibility of solution escaping from said apparatus.   
     
     
       13. The apparatus recited in claim 12 wherein said control means comprises a solenoid operated valve in a supply line of said liquid to said nozzle, and said means responsive comprises switching means in one of said first and second mounting brackets and actuating means for said switching means in the other of said first and second mounting brackets.   
     
     
       14. The apparatus recited in claim 13 wherein said switching means comprises microswitch means in said first mounting bracket and said actuating means comprises spring actuated means for switching said microswitch means and located in said second mounting bracket. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus recited in claim 12 further comprising safety means for directing any accidental discharge from said nozzle in said second position toward said second opening of said conveying means, and discharge means connected to said second opening for discharging any solution emanating therefrom to a receiving tank.   
     
     
       16. The apparatus recited in claim 15 wherein said safety means comprises means for retaining said nozzle means for pointing in a fixed direction oriented toward said first opening of said conveying means in said first position thereof, and toward said second opening of said conveying means in said second position thereof. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus recited in claim 9 wherein said mounting means further comprises stop means for preventing rotation of said apparatus by 360° and thereby enabling rotation from said first position to said second position only in a first direction, and rotation from said second position to said first position only in a second direction opposite to said first direction. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus recited in claim 17 including detent means for positioning said apparatus in said first position, said detent means further comprising means for actuating a switch means for enabling flow of liquid to said nozzle means when said apparatus is in said first position and disabling flow of liquid when out of said first position. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus recited in claim 9 further comprising protective means for protecting said container from damaging physical contact once coupled to said conveying means. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said protective means comprises a protective shroud containing threads to receive a container and which extends axially upward to cover said container. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus recited in claim 9 wherein said conveying means is substantially funnel shaped for receiving said powdered materials from a wide opening forming said first opening coupled to said container, and for dispensing said dissolved powder from a narrow opening forming said second opening, coupled to a tube means for directing said dissolved powder to a receiving tank. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus recited in claim 20 further comprising venting means in said conveying means comprising an opening for relieving pressure buildup, said opening oriented to prevent leakage in said first position, said venting means further providing air intake, enabling an even gravity feeding of said dissolved powder.   
     
     
       23. The apparatus recited in claim 21 further comprising protecting means for said container associated with said conveying means. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said stop means comprises a cylindrical projection on the face of said first mounting bracket, offset and placed above the center of rotation of said second mounting bracket, said second mounting bracket having one lobe whose length is less than the distance from the center of rotation of the second mounting bracket to said stop means and two lobes whose length is greater than said distance. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus recited in claim 22 wherein said vent means is directed towards said first mounting bracket. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus recited in claim 25 wherein there is a protective shroud over the outlet at said venting means. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the protective shroud is integral with said conveying means. 
     
     
       28. Material dispensing apparatus for dispensing a solution of said material comprising: (a) a container of said material formed of a component enabling external observation of a level of said material within said container;   (b) said container having an opening;   (c) conveying means having a first opening and coupling means for coupling said first opening in said conveying means to said opening of said container;   (d) receiving means attached to said conveying means for receiving granules of said material fed from said container, said receiving means comprising a perforated material;   (e) said conveying means connecting said opening of said container to a second opening for dispensing said solution, said conveying means including a substantially cylindrical portion between said first opening and said second opening, dissolving means comprising a nozzle for directing a liquid at said perforated material and the vertical walls of said substantially cylindrical portion; and   (f) rotating means for rotating said coupled container and conveying means from a first position wherein granules of said material may be fed from said container to said receiving means, to a second position wherein granules of said material may not be fed from said container to said receiving means.   
     
     
       29. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 28 wherein said material is gravity fed from said container to said receiving means, and said solution is gravity fed from said receiving means to said second opening, said container being operatively disposed when in inverted position above said first opening. 
     
     
       30. The dispensing apparatus recited in claim 29 further comprising discharge means connected to said second opening of said conveying means for discharging said solution. 
     
     
       31. An apparatus for dissolving and dispensing powdered material materials from a container comprising: (a) a conveying means for said materials having coupling means at one end thereof for coupling to said container;   (b) said conveying means having a first opening at one end for receiving said powdered material from an opening in said container, and a second opening at a second end thereof for dispensing said powdered materials in a dissolved state.   (c) a porous support member within said conveying means for supporting said powdered materials on one surface thereof;   (d) nozzle means disposed within said conveying means for directing a liquid under pressure at another surface of said support member and for wetting powdered material granules supported on said one surface of said support member;   (e) mounting means for rotatably mounting said conveying means to a fixed structure comprising: (i) first mounting bracket for attachment to a fixed structure;   (ii) second mounting bracket for attachment to said conveying means and for rotatably engaging said first mounting bracket;     (f) said conveying means being rotatable between a first, operative position wherein said powdered materials pass from said container to said porous support member for dissolution and dispensing, and a second, inoperative position wherein said powdered materials do not pass from said container to said porous support member; and   (g) a protecting means for said container associated with conveying means.   
     
     
       32. The apparatus as claimed in claim 31 wherein said protecting means comprises a shroud partially covering said container. 
     
     
       33. An apparatus for dissolving dispensing powdered materials from a container comprising: (a) conveying means for said materials having coupling means at one end thereof for coupling to said container;   (b) said conveying means comprising a funnel member having a first opening coupled to an opening in said container for receiving said powdered materials from said opening in said container, and a second opening at a second end thereof for dispensing said powdered materials in a dissolved state, said funnel having an aperture below said first opening to allow air into said conveying means;   (c) porous structure within said conveying means for supporting powdered materials on one surface thereof;   (d) nozzle means disposed within said conveying means for directing a liquid under pressure at another surface of said support member and for wetting material granules supported on one surface of said support member;   (e) mounting means for rotatably mounting said conveying means to a fixed structure comprising: (i) first mounting bracket for attachment to said fixed structure;   (ii) second mounting bracket for attachment to said conveying means and for rotatably engaging said first mounting bracket; and     (f) said conveying means being rotatable between a first, operative position wherein said powdered materials pass from said container to said conveying means for dissolution and dispensing, and a second, inoperative position wherein said powdered materials do not pass from said container to said conveying means.   
     
     
       34. An apparatus for dissolving and dispensing powdered materials from a container comprising: (a) conveying means for said material having coupling means at one end thereof for coupling to said container;   (b) said conveying means having a first opening at said one end for receiving said powdered materials from an opening in said container, and a second opening at a second end thereof for dispensing said powdered materials in a dissolved state;   (c) a porous support member within said conveying means for supporting said powdered materials on one surface thereof;   (d) nozzle means disposed within said conveying means for directing a liquid under pressure at another surface of said support member and for wetting said powdered material granules supported on said one surface of said support member;   (e) mounting means for rotatably mounting said conveying means to a fixed support structure comprising: (i) first mounting bracket for attachment to said first structure;   (ii) second mounting bracket for attachment to said conveying means and for rotatably engaging said first mounting bracket;     (f) said conveying means being rotatable between a first, operative position wherein said powdered materials pass from said container to said conveying means for dissolution and dispensing, and a second, inoperative position wherein said powdered materials do not pass from said container to said conveying means; and   (g) control means for enabling and disabling flow of said liquid to said nozzle comprising a solenoid operated valve, and switching means in one of said first and second mounting brackets and actuating means for said switching means in the other of said first and second mounting brackets.   
     
     
       35. The apparatus recited in claim 34 wherein said switching means comprises microswitch means in said first mounting bracket and said actuating means comprises spring actuated means for switching said microswitch means located in said second mounting bracket.